flirtations, even from here.
“That would be an interesting match,” I murmured.
“I just want everyone to have their own happy endings,” Clara said thoughtfully before taking a deep breath. We both knew that happiness didn’t mean perfection when it came to love. It just meant someone who made all the hard bits worth it.
“Are we going to open presents?” My mother appeared next to us, looking directly at Clara like I wasn’t there. “I have an appointment in the morning.”
I forced myself to lean over and kiss her cheek. My mother wasn’t an easy woman to love. In all honesty, I wasn't certain that I did love her, but the importance of familial duty had been drilled into me at a young age.
“Belle,” she said in a snide tone, accepting the kiss without returning it, “you look tired. Have you seen your doctor?”
“Tomorrow,” I told her. “I’m hoping that she’ll evict this little one.”
“Well, you really don’t want to go much longer.” She eyed me carefully and I could see her counting up my flaws like she was tallying a register. “How much weight have you put on?”
“Mary,” Smith’s stern voice broke through before the full weight of her words could strike, “lovely to see you.”
My mother smiled in a way that was more grimace than greeting and excused herself.
“Sometimes when I think my mother is bad, I remember your mother and I'm thankful,” Clara said thoughtfully. She wrapped an arm around me. “You haven’t gained an ounce. You just look like you swallowed a bowling ball.”
I knew she was lying, but it was well-meant. There was a time when my mother’s remarks would have hurt, but I was past that now. I’d gained some weight and a lot of curves—which was not only normal, but healthy—and it wasn’t like my husband was complaining.
“I stopped caring about what she thought a long time ago,” I said, waving off their concern, “but she brought up a good point. Presents?”
“As you wish.” Clara clapped and called out for everyone to gather round.
It turned out that a chair had been specifically designated for my use: new upholstered rocking chair, a gift from my Aunt Jane. I spent the next hour unwrapping tiny baby things. Booties and bonnets and tiny, knee socks. It was almost impossible to believe she would be here soon and that these would fit her. They looked like they were meant for a doll. By the time I was finished, I was surrounded by a mountain of wrapping paper and half the nursery selection of Harrods.
“This is going to be a well-dressed baby,” Jane said from her seat near the hearth.
“There’s one more,” Clara said, passing a small box to me with a smile.
I looked at the pretty package, checking for a card or even just a tag. “Okay, out with it, who brought it?”
No one spoke up. My eyes flickered to Smith, wondering if he’d managed to sneak in a gift without me noticing, but he looked as puzzled as I felt. I untied the pink bow and opened the lid of the box. Inside, I found a small, velvet jewelry box. I couldn’t bite back a smile. Of course, Smith had something ready, even without knowing there was going to be a party. I shot him a bemused glance, but he continued to feign innocence. When I lifted the velvet box, he took a step closer, his expression giving way to concern. My fingers paused on the lid as I realized he really didn’t know where it had come from.
“Maybe you shouldn’t…” he began as I popped open the lid. Nestled inside was one single copper bullet.
7
Smith
Georgia lingered after the other guests had gone. The evening’s final present had considerably dimmed the mood. Poor Clara looked on the edge of a nervous collapse when Norris took her home to Alexander. I had a feeling he wouldn’t be allowing her out again anytime soon. The trouble was that it wasn’t just any copper bullet. It was the copper bullet. The one I’d saved for Hammond but never used. The trouble is that I knew exactly where that bullet was supposed to be, and it wasn’t in a velvet box in Holland Park. Tonight, Clara would go home and tell Alexander the story. I would be paying him a visit soon, so he could explain how a bullet from a gun I gave him for safekeeping made its way to my wife’s baby shower.
He wouldn’t have an answer for me. It